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1356
TATTVASANGRAHA: CHAPTER XXV.
The following Teat shows that what is itself unknown cannot serve as an indicator :
TEXTS (3040-3041).
UNLESS PEOPLE KNOW THE Stick, THEY CANNOT HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE stick-holder. THUS THE IDEA OF THE SELF-VALIDITY' BEING INDICATED BY the absence of defects BECOMES DISCARDED BY SELF-CONTRADICTION.-The absence of defects CAN QUALIFY THE WORD' ONLY WHEN ASCERTAINED BY THAT MEANS OF COGNITION WHICH CONSISTS OF NONAPPREHENSION; AND IN THIS WAY VALIDITY OF A COGNITION WOULD BE DUE TO SOMETHING EXTRANEOUS TO ITSELF.
(3040-3041)
COMMENTARY.
Further, absence of defects may be a qualification ; but even so, the objection remains, -as there is possibility of self-contradiction. For instance, if Validity is indicated and qualified by the absence of defects, then it would clearly mean that Validity is extraneous; and this would go against and discard the assertion that Validity is inherent.
This same idea is further clarified in the words— the absence of defects can qualify, etc. etc.'.-If the absence of defects is ascertained through the Means of Cognition known as "Non-apprehension', then alone it could serve as a qualification and an indicator); because what is not ascertained cannot serve as a qualification; and there is no other Means of Cognition that could bring about the certain Cognition of the absence (of defects); consequently it becomes clearly asserted that the Validity of the Cognition follows from Non-apprehension, which is something different from the Cognition itself.-(3040-3041)
It has been argued by the other party, under the Text 2893, that "while the excellences are there, there does not appear any Cognition of the defects of the man".
The answer to this is as follows:
TEXT (3042).
EVEN WHEN THE EXCELLENCES ARE THERE, THE COGNITION OF THE DEFECTS OF THE MAN DO APPEAR. IF THERE IS NON-COGNITION OF EXCELLENCES, HOW CAN THERE BE ANY COGNITION
OF THE ABSENCE OF DEFECTS ?-(3042)
COMMENTARY.
Tf, while the excellences are there, there onn be no Cognition of the defects (of the Man), then,-as the excellences, lying within the chain'